The Genus Mithrodia Gray, 1840

The following paper was written in the first place by one of us (H.E.) on the basis of specimens in the Amsterdam and Leiden Museums and on others lent by the Bernice P. Bishop Museum and Dr. W. K. Fisher. The MS was then submitted to the other two authors. One of them (D.D.J.) compared it closely with specimens in the British Museum (Natural History) —fifteen of M. clavigera, the two types of M. victoriae, one specimen each of M. Bradleyi and M. Fisheri—and suggested such alterations and additions as he thought necessary. After a careful study of the types of M. victoriae he concluded that it is safer to regard it as a separate species and added the description given below. In the same way the third author (G. C.) contributed his remarks after the study of thirteen specimens of M. clavigera, one specimen of M. Bradleyi and seven specimens of M. Fisheri from the collection of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. The genus Mithrodia, as such easily recognised by the series of large cylindrical spines along the arms, is one of the puzzling genera of Asterids when one tries to identify the species. For many years it was the custom of authors to use the name M. clavigera for all Mithrodias and to abstain from any description. After de Loriol's clear description of 1885, Fisher (1906) was the first again to call attention to the species problem in the genus. The present authors, after a careful examination of the material under their charge, as well as of many specimens put at their disposal by other Museums, give their opinion on the species that may be distinguished. They have to thank the Directors of the Leiden and of the Bernice P. Bishop Museums, as well as Dr. W. K. Fisher for sending on loan specimens of the